2022 WC Qatar - European qualifiers

[bugylibicska]

Both Mancini and Ronaldo promised qualification. Now what?

They both need to concentrate on the first task, North Macedonia and Turkey (in a single match anything can happen), then think about qualification.

They can concentrate as much as they want, but one of them won't make it.

[Lorric]

Mwa ha ha ha ha ha!!! UEFA will help the big teams if there's more than one of them, will they?

Wow. A giant out for the WC. Looks like Italy both games at home (so probably against Portugal) ?

Both Mancini and Ronaldo promised qualification. Now what?

Exactly what I wanted. At least one will be left with egg smeared across their face.

Either Ronaldo's dream ends here or Italy miss two straight World Cups. I think the odds favour Portugal. They already showed in the first Nations League they can win under these very similar conditions.

One thing in my heart I wanted was to see Wales and Scotland fight each other over a place at the World Cup. In my head I wanted both to be able to get there, but now it's set, I really hope they both win their semi!

Path B, Russia have been getting so much stick on this forum. But if they can recapture the spirit of 2018 and win these two home games...

[bugylibicska]

What country took Poland's spot among the seeded? Just curious in case Poland would have been seeded who's the opponent?

[Michael S Collins]

What country took Poland's spot among the seeded? Just curious in case Poland would have been seeded who's the opponent?

Wasn't it Wales?

[Firnen]

Italy and Portugal together, wow !

I am of course rooting for Italy.

The 1st path is the weakest one, the strongest team, Ukraine, has 2 away matches.

Very interesting 2nd path, anyone but Russia please. Preferably Poland.

[bugylibicska]

What country took Poland's spot among the seeded? Just curious in case Poland would have been seeded who's the opponent?

Wasn't it Wales?

Poland - Austria looks better to me than Russia - Poland, although Poland still can count themselves lucky avoiding the big mouth boys.

[nogomet]

I could've sworn that AFC team was drawn against CONCACAF team. But now I see they play against S. American team? Weird... Anyway, Australia misses out from the WC in the above projections, Panama move in instead.

[bugylibicska]

Mwa ha ha ha ha ha!!! UEFA will help the big teams if there's more than one of them, will they?

Wow. A giant out for the WC. Looks like Italy both games at home (so probably against Portugal) ?

Both Mancini and Ronaldo promised qualification. Now what?

Exactly what I wanted. At least one will be left with egg smeared across their face.

Either Ronaldo's dream ends here or Italy miss two straight World Cups. I think the odds favour Portugal. They already showed in the first Nations League they can win under these very similar conditions.

One thing in my heart I wanted was to see Wales and Scotland fight each other over a place at the World Cup. In my head I wanted both to be able to get there, but now it's set, I really hope they both win their semi!

Path B, Russia have been getting so much stick on this forum. But if they can recapture the spirit of 2018 and win these two home games...

I'd normally want them to avoid each other, but this time their big mouth attitude backfired. I don't mind, to be honest.

[Michael S Collins]

I could've sworn that AFC team was drawn against CONCACAF team. But now I see they play against S. American team? Weird... Anyway, Australia misses out from the WC in the above projections, Panama move in instead.

Yeah as soon as that draw happened, I swear you could hear the "OH GOD NO!" cries from the Japanese and Australian FAs right across the world.

[sinfony]

Had FIFA used its own world rankings to create the two seeding pots:

Seeds:
Italy
Portugal
Sweden
Wales
Ukraine
Poland

Unseeded:
Austria
Czech Republic
Russia
Turkey
Scotland
North Macedonia

Had the teams come out in the same order of ranking as they did in the real draw, then, using the FIFA World Rankings, the pairings would have been:

Path A:
Portugal v Turkey
Poland v Scotland (home in final)

Path B:
Wales v Czech Republic (home in final)
Ukraine v North Macedonia

Path C:
Sweden v Russia
Italy v Austria (home in final)

[offside]

Both Mancini and Ronaldo promised qualification. Now what?

They both need to concentrate on the first task, North Macedonia and Turkey (in a single match anything can happen), then think about qualification.

They can concentrate as much as they want, but one of them won't make it.

True, except that (like I was trying to say writing about the first match to play) they can both miss the qualification.

[Greyn]

Odds to qualify for the Round 2:

Russia - 1.70 , Poland - 2.15
Scotland - 1.75 , Ukraine - 2.10
Wales - 2.00 , Austria - 1.80
Sweden - 1.55 , Czechia - 2.45
Italy - 1.10 , North Macedonia - 7.00
Portugal - 1.22 , Turkey - 4.25

Except for the ties with 2 big boys involved, all others look more or less balanced. Something what I like.

[bugylibicska]

They both need to concentrate on the first task, North Macedonia and Turkey (in a single match anything can happen), then think about qualification.

They can concentrate as much as they want, but one of them won't make it.

True, except that (like I was trying to say writing about the first match to play) they can both miss the qualification.

Yes, but probably not. On paper at least both stronger and play at home.

[anty1975]

I think it was against Wales away that Scotland secured their 1986 qualification and it was also the match in which legendary coach Jock Stein died. We could see a repeat but hopefully without such tragic circumstances.

[Lorric]

Odds to qualify for the Round 2:

Russia - 1.70 , Poland - 2.15
Scotland - 1.75 , Ukraine - 2.10
Wales - 2.00 , Austria - 1.80
Sweden - 1.55 , Czechia - 2.45
Italy - 1.10 , North Macedonia - 7.00
Portugal - 1.22 , Turkey - 4.25

Except for the ties with 2 big boys involved, all others look more or less balanced. Something what I like.

I'm really surprised Austria are favoured to win in Wales. I don't get that at all, other unseeds look much more likely for an away win.